In the past few years, imported Italian groceries have become increasingly common in US stores. Yet, every time we come back from Italy, we bring along a full suitcase of hard-to-find Italian food that help us mitigate successfully our homesickness.
This is our top 10 list of Italian products that we regularly bring back after a trip to Italy:
– Coffee (the most popular brands are Lavazza and Illy).
– Extra-virgin olive oil. The choice is wide, but a lot depends on how much you want to spend. Usually the ones sold in dark green glass bottles are the best.
– Tuna in extra-virgin olive oil.
– Spices for meat and fish dishes. The most famous one is called Ariosto and it’s a blend of the main aromatic herbs used in the Italian cuisine.
– Cookies and pastry products: everything which is branded Mulino Bianco and Ferrero is worth trying.
– Nutella, the original one.
– Senape (mustard). Orco is the brand we recommend. Italians use the senape with their meat dishes, especially sausages, but also chicken and pork.
– Panna Cotta mix, a smooth, silky and creamy dessert.
– Fiesta sponge cakes by Ferrero filled with orange cream and covered with chocolate.
– Gianduja chocolate, the original with hazelnuts specifically grown in the Piedmont hills.
What do you bring back from your trip to Italy?
(Check out our new eBook for additional 350+ practical tips about visiting Italy).
Pao/Fra, my sister recently went to Italy to visit my mom in Molise. I knew she'd want to bring back some of mom's olive oil (yes, she has olive trees!). The problem is that in the past we carried the oil onto the plane but these days no liquids are allowed. My sister found a really good 'lattina' and packed the oil in her checked luggage. Luckily, it did not leak and my sister can now enjoy 'imported' Italian olive oil.
This is a great blog! I throughly am enjoying it….complimenti. I'm an Italian/Canadian and I live in Toronto and a lot of the products you've shown are found in Toronto…not sure if you are aware of this but the biggest number of Italians that live outside of Italy is found in Canada, specifically Toronto!
Comunque, I will be sure to visit your blog.
ciao ciao!
I was wondering if you know any of the supermarkets that carry the Mulino Bianco products, I have checked the major ones and have had no luck in finding any of them.
My friends from Milano always fill up their suitcase with cans of Tuna before they return back home to the states. I was so honored that my friend gave me one of her precious cans of Tuna out of her little stock to try! It really does taste wonderful. Plan to stock up myself next visit and return the favor ; -)
FIESTA!!!!!?
http://www.krumirirossi.it
the best.. really!
also
http://www.bistefani.it
I guess olive oil is one of the best oil ever because it offers the possibility of livinh healthy and not only that as olive oil is used in the cosmetics business. I think that olive oil falls under the healthy products category.
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Olive Wood Crucifix
We successfully carried olive oil and balsamic in our checked luggage using wine “diapers.” They are available on line through many sources. Type in wine diapers to find the best price or go to a site called bizarre.
it wasent that good because it justed showed me food!